Observances and celebrations during the 2023 Spring Semester
January:
15: Makar Sankranti (Hindu festival dedicated to the sun god Surya)
15: World Religion Day (Baha’i Faith celebration to highlight the common themes across vairous faiths and religions worldwide)
16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
20: Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday, commemorating the tenth Sikh Guru and spiritual master
27: International Day of Commemoration in Memory of Victims of the Holocaust
February:
1: Beginning of Black History Month
1: Chinese New Year
1: Imbolc (Pagan and Wiccan festival marks the halfway point between winter solstice and spring equinox)
2: Candlemas (Christian holiday celebrates the birth of light 40 days after Christmas)
5: Tu Bishvat (Judaism, “Earth Day”)
15: Parinirvana (Mahãyãna Buddhism, “Nirvana Day” commemorating Buddha’s death and attainment of final nirvana)
18: Lailat al Miraj (Muslim holy day celebrating Muhammad’s pilgrimage form Mecca to Jerusalem)
22: Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent in the Christian Church
24: Festival Ayyam-I-Ha, a multi-day Baha’i festival highlighting charity, hospitality, gift-giving, and preparation of fasting before the New Year.
March:
1: Beginning of Women’s History Month
6-7: Purium, or “Feast of Lots,” a Jewish festival celebrating the survival of Jews who were marked for death by Persian rulers
8: International Women’s Day
8: Holi, a Hindu festival celebrating spring, love, and new life
8-10: Hola Mohalla, 3-day festival in which Sikhs enjoy communal meals, religious song and prayer, and martial arts performances
19: St. Joseph’s Feast Day, Christian holiday celebrating Jesus’ surrogate father and Mary’s husband
21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (designated by the United Nations)
21: Ostara, the Wiccan holiday celebrating the spring equinox
21: Naw Ruz, marking the Persian and Baha’i New Year on the Vernal Equinox
22-31: Navaratri, a Hindu festival celebrating the Goddess Durga
22: Beginning of Ramadan, Muslim holy month of fasting
25: The Annunciation, Christian holiday commemorating the Angel Gabriel’s announcement that Mary would give birth to Jesus
April:
2: World Autism Day
4: Mahavir Jayanti, celebrating the birthday of Jainism founder Lord Mahavira
5-13: Passover, Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt
9: Easter, Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ
14: Vaisakhi, the ancient festival celebrating both the Solar New Year and springtime harvest
16: Feast of the Devine Mercy, Christian holiday celebrated the second Sunday of Easter
21-22: Eid al-Fitr, Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan
May:
1: Beginning of Jewish American Heritage Month, Asian American and Pacific Island Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and Older Americans Month
1: Beltane, a Pagan and Wiccan holiday honoring life. It represents the peak of Spring and the beginning of Summer
5: Buddha’s Birthday and, for some Buddhists, a day that marks his enlightenment
5: Vestak, a Therada Buddhist festival observing the birth, death, and enlightenment of Buddha (observation begins the evening of the prior day)
17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
18: Ascension Day, the Christian holiday celebrating Jesus’ ascension to heaven